The City of Sydney v Streetscape Projects (Australia) Pty Limited & Anor [2011] NSWSC 363

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: The City of Sydney v Streetscape Projects (Australia) Pty Limited & Anor [2011] NSWSC 363 Hearing dates: 27 April 2011 Decision date: 03 May 2011 Jurisdiction: Equity Division - Commercial List Before: Einstein J Decision: City of Sydney to be released from its undertakings given to the Court whereunder the City of Sydney would not enter into any agreement for the sale of the intellectual property in the S1 and S2 series of "Smartpole" poles. Catchwords: Equity-Principles concerning whether interlocutory orders should be varied- Application by City of Sydney to be released from undertakings that City would not enter into any agreement for the sale of the intellectual property in the "S1" and "S2" series of "Smartpole" poles - Specific performance - Consequence of defendants determining not to press relief seeking specific performance -- litigation before the Court concerns what came to be known as the Smartpole Project said to have been developed by the City of Sydney in around 1996/1997 in preparation for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games Legislation Cited: Judicature Act Trade Practices Act 1974 Cth Cases Cited: Birmingham v Renfrew (1937) 57 CLR 666 Breskvar v Wall (1971) 126 CLR 376; [1972] ALR 205 Brimaud v Honeysett Instant Print Pty Ltd (1988) 217 ALR 44 Brown v Heffer (1967) 116 CLR 344; [1968] ALR 89 Central Trust and Safe Deposit Co v Snider [1916] 1 AC 266 Fairweather v Fairweather (1944) 69 CLR 121 at 154; [1944] ALR 190 Freemoult v Desire (1718) 1 P Wms. 429 Harmer v Armstrong, [1934] Ch 65 Lake v Bayliss [1974] 2 All ER 1114; [1974] 1 WLR 1073 P Dawson Nominees Pty Ltd v Australian Securities and Investments Commission (No 2) (2009) 255 ALR 466; [2009] FCA 413 Pivotel Satellite Pty Ltd v Optus Mobile Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 121 Rayner v Preston (1881) 18 Ch D 1 Royal Exchange Assurance v Hope, [1928] Ch 179 Shanahan v Fitzgerald [1973] 2 NSWLR 513 Vandepitte v Preferred Accident Insurance Company [1933] AC 70 Warringah Shire Council v Industrial Acceptance Corp (unreported, SC(NSW), McLelland J, 22 November 1979 Wilkshire & Coffey v Commonwealth (1976) 9 ALR 325 Texts Cited: R.D. Heydon and M.J. Leeming, Jacobs Law of Trusts in Australia, Seventh Edition, (2006), Butterworths Meagher, Gummow & Lehane, Equity: Doctrines & Remedies, 4th ed Lewin on Trusts (12th ed), Sweet and Maxwell Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: The City of Sydney (Plaintiff) Streetscape Projects (Australia) Pty Limited (First Defendant) Moses Edward Obeid (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr T Jucovic SC, Mr S Climpson, Mr C Bova (Plaintiff) Ms J Baird SC, Mr J Gooley (Defendants) Solicitors: Holding Redlich (Plaintiff) Colin Biggers & Paisley (Defendants) File Number(s): 2009/00298673 & 2010/0085353